More Details on Riverside Square Condo Proposal

Last month we reported on a condo proposal by Streetcar Developments called Riverside Square. This Planning and Urban Design Rationale document sheds more light on the planned development. This development would be done in two phases: Phase one on the western edge of the parcel, at 77-79 East Don Roadway, includes the 24 story tower and two other buildings. Phase 2, at 667 Queen Street, will be completed after phase 1 has completed to allow the Toyota dealership can be relocated into a new space in the first phase of this development.

The whole development would contain 5 automotive dealerships, a new grocery store and a total of 894 residential units. There would be parking for 791 cars, including 160 new public parking spaces, and 851 bicycle parking spaces.

Phase 1: 77-79 East Don Roadway

There are three buildings proposed in phase 1. A new private street is planned south of Queen street to provide access to the site. The buildings would be designed by RAW Design.

The first building is a 7 story mixed use building fronting Queen Street just to the west of the new private street. The ground floor would have small format retail along Queen street and a residential lobby fronting the new street. The top three levels of this building would be set back from Queen Street to reduce shadowing of the street. This building would have 44 condo units.

South of the 7 story building is a larger building that would rise to a maximum height of 12 stories. This long building would stretch from the East Don Roadway to the new private street and may be used as a rental apartment building with 270 apartments. An automotive dealership is planned to occupy 4 stories along the East Don Roadway as well as a significant amount of space below ground in the parking levels.

The tallest building would be on the south end of the land parcel, near Eastern Avenue. This building has a base of 8 stories with a tower on the east end rising 16 stories above the base (totaling 24 stories). The base would contain around 9500 square meters of “non-residential” use which would primarily be occupied by 4 auto dealerships. There are 555 condo units planned above.

Phase 2 – 677 Queen Street East

Phase 2 of the development is on the current site of the Toyota dealership. One long building is planned that would front Queen street and extend south along the new private street. The portion of the building fronting Queen street would be 7 stories tall, with the top three levels set back from the street. The building would rise in height to 13 stories further south of Queen Street to contain a total of 339 residential units. A new grocery store is planned for the north-west corner of this development which is something that the areas could use. Phase 2 will be designed by Giannone Petricone Associates.

Streetcar Developments is hoping to extend the East Don Roadway south under Eastern Avenue to provide access to the previously inaccessible greenspace inside the DVP onramp. This space was formerly part of Sunlight Park, which had Toronto’s first baseball stadium between 1886 and 1897. Streetcar is also proposing providing a pedestrian and bicycle connection from the park over the river and DVP to the new Corktown Common park to the west.